NM Attorney general announces criminal charges on former NMSU basketball players

Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced Thursday multiple felony charges against three New Mexico State University basketball players for hazing incidents resulting in criminal charges that occurred throughout the fall of 2022.  

“The indictment filed against three former student athletes at New Mexico State University should serve as an unambiguous signal to everyone in this state that hazing will not be tolerated at our educational institutions,” Torrez said. “Players, coaches and administrators at every level are on notice that this type of violent conduct will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. They should also be aware that while this action is an important first step in addressing this inexcusable behavior, our work in correcting the culture that allowed these crimes to occur is far from finished.”  

Three members of the 2022 NMSU men’s basketball team – Deshawndre Washington, Doctor Bradley and Kim Aiken Jr. – are accused of holding younger players and student staff against their will while they violated them. Alleged acts included multiple incidents in which they forcefully restrained victims while violently grabbing their genital areas.  

The indictments include:  

• Deshawndre Washington, charged with
  • One count of criminal sexual penetration
  • Five counts of false imprisonment
  • Five counts of criminal sexual contact
  • One count of conspiracy to commit criminal sexual contact 
  • One count of conspiracy to commit false imprisonment. 
• Doctor Bradley, charged with 
  • One count of criminal sexual penetration
  • Five counts of false imprisonment
  • Five counts of criminal sexual contact
  • One count of conspiracy to commit criminal sexual contact 
  • One count of conspiracy to commit false imprisonment. 
• Kim Aiken Jr, charged with 
  • One count of criminal sexual penetration
  • Four counts of false imprisonment
  • Four counts of criminal sexual contact
  • One count of conspiracy to commit criminal sexual contact
  • One count of conspiracy to commit false imprisonment 

Bradley was the only one of those charged who was currently on an NCAA Division I basketball roster, Nicholls State University in Louisiana. However, Bradley was dismissed from the team Thursday after the felony charges were announced.

NMSU previously settled a civil case regarding some of these incidents. Former players William (Deuce) Benjamin and Shakiru Odenewu, along with Benjamin’s father, William Benjamin Sr., filed suit in April. The university settled in that suit, agreeing to pay $8 million to the plaintiffs. Defendants included Washington, Bradley and Aiken, along with the university, former NMSU head coach Greg Heiar and former assistant coach Dominique Taylor.

Earlier this week, on Nov. 6, a second civil lawsuit was filed, with former player Kyle Feit, another unnamed player, and an unnamed former student manager listed as plaintiffs. That suit also alleged a pervasive gun culture among some team members. Defendants in the Nov. 6 civil suit included Washington, Bradley and Aiken, along with the university, former NMSU head coach Greg Heiar, former assistant coach Dominique Taylor and current NMSU athletic director Mario Moccia.